Berengaria & White Patent Oil Burning Co Ltd

[Whickham]

From the Smith’s monthly of October 1924, sent to me by Kevin Blair.

[Hornbeam]

Usually Cement Boxes were used to stop leaks however on this vessel it was used to aid her Stability, 2,000 tons of it and that was despite removing some of the heavier items from some of the Cabins Topsides, oh dear somebody made a mistake with their calculations
A Pilot remarked that she was slow to come back up after a turn which reminded me of the unfortunate "Lairdsfield" incident and the following inquiry which trashed a number of persons reputations including those from a well known Teesside Firm either due to lying or a convenient loss of memory about her final Cargo Tally and the last minute loading of same.

[magoonigal]

If its the same Firm, White's Burners are still on the go. I remember them from Industrial Gas Burner installations and the late Jim Smith was a Rep. for them.



Whites Burners have been established since 1902 and specialises in the installation, maintenance and repair of commercial & industrial, and domestic Boilers. Our burners are used throughout the world by various companies from domestic use through to large commercial outlets. Our customers include Nissan, Swanhunters, Royal Mail, County Councils (Tyne & Wear and Cumbria).

Based in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, we have national coverage and a loyal customer base. We are commissioning agents for Nuway, Reillo & EOGB and service agents for Dalby spray booths, and Andrews water heaters.

[michaelp]

Seeing the photo reminded me that, so I was told, when she was broken up one of her funnels went to the holiday camp (Pontins?) at Middleton Sands near Morecambe. The funnel was on top of the reception building, not that I ever went, but could be seen from the main road from Lancaster to Morecambe or from the electrified Lancaster /Morecambe/Heysham Harbour line. This was in the 1950's.

Regards to all

Michael

[northeast]

Fancy that, yes it was Pontin's.
Presumably someone bought it at Jarrow before the hull went to Rosyth for final demolition.

[northeast]

Now I'm thinking it was a fake funnel!

Pontins Middleton Tower Holiday Camp, Morecambe

This 65 acre camp was opened in 1939 by Harry Kamiya, a successful Blackpool businessman who owned a number of amusement concessions around the country. He had grand visions to build a large camp to accommodate 3,000 people to rival Butlins but the war intervened and his full plans were never realized. After being requisitioned for wartime use the camp was handed back and in 1949 be built the 'SS Berengaria' a huge 2000-seat theater built in the style of an ocean liner.
It was acquired by Pontins in 1964

[Hornbeam]

I wonder if the Aft Funnel became redundant when she was changed to Oil Burning (becoming The Dog Kennels?)never seen any photographs/drawings of her internals to confirm, bearing in mind her fixtures and fittings were sold off her now redundant Funnel could have gone the same way and possibly along with some furniture etc to the Holiday Camp

[magoonigal]

Good story.

[Hornbeam]

I am sure there must be something off the ship in building, either the owner of the Holiday Camp sailed on the vessel or bought a job lot of fixtures and fittings off her very cheap

[Whickham]

A better version of one of the photos in the original article on this thread.
Photo from this weeks Chronicle.

Photo courtesy of the Evening Chronicle